Bishop John and Nicholas Mamey to Launch Book on Marriage at Miami Convention

[SVOTS Communications / Yonkers, NY] Orthodox Christian couples are often seeking sage advice on how to strengthen their marital bond, and St. Vladimir's Seminary Press (SVS Press) has just released a book to help them do so: Building an Orthodox Marriage: A Practical Commentary on the Eastern Orthodox Marriage Rite. Written by a long-time married but now widowed bishop and a newly married layman, the book prepares couples to understand marriage as "a great mystery" akin to the relationship between Christ and His Bride, the Church (Eph 5.32), while coaching them in practical ways to strengthen their union.

His Grace the Right Reverend John Abdalah, bishop of the Diocese of Worcester and New England of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA), and Nicholas G. Mamey, a newly married seminary graduate, are coauthors of the volume. In their work, they first establish a grounding for marriage, using Scripture and texts from the Orthodox Christian wedding ceremony, and then go on to offer practical guidance to couples.

The volume will be formally launched at the 53rd Biennial Antiochian Archdiocese Convention in Miami, July 23–30, 2017. Bishop John will be available at select times during the convention for book-signings at the SVS Press & Bookstore booth, located in the Great Hall Foyer of the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa, Hollywood, FL, and also during St. Vladimir's Seminary's alumni event at that hotel on Wednesday evening, July 26.

The book received a positive review from Dr. Albert S. Rossi, clinical psychologist, retired Associate Professor of Psychology from Pace University, and current Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at St. Vladimir's Seminary, who wrote: "As I read the book many sentences jumped off the page—off the page and into my heart. If an engaged couple, or married couple of many years, were to read only one book on Orthodox marriage, I would recommend this book."

His Grace Bishop John, Diocese of Worcester and New England, holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in Pastoral Care from Pittsburgh Theological School, a Master of Divinity degree from St. Vladimir's Seminary, and a Master's equivalency certificate in Pastoral Counseling from Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute. He also is a clinical member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. He taught Pastoral Counseling in the graduate program at the St. John of Damascus Institute at the Balamand in Lebanon. He was married to Joanne Josephs for nearly thirty years, until her repose May 27, 2008.

Nicholas Mamey holds Master of Divinity and Master of Theological Study degrees from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA. He married Christina Randol in 2016.